Request for SCANCO micro-CT 40 Multi-User Bone Studies

项目摘要/摘要：本课题拟申请资金购买一台Scanco <CT40仪器，用于小动物（小鼠和大鼠）模型小梁和皮质骨的二维和三维成像和定量分析。该仪器将在15个用户之间共享（10个由14个NIH资助，5个是最近招募的初级教师）。马萨诸塞大学医学院伍斯特校区没有类似的仪器，目前有16个研究项目需要这种仪器来定量评估遗传小鼠模型中的骨骼异常，解决骨关节炎和骨折修复缺陷的新治疗方法，表征骨修复的新生物材料替代品，以及保护骨骼免受辐射损伤和骨肿瘤生长引起的溶骨破坏的新方法。目前，这些项目使用多种方法，包括标准放射照相、磁共振成像和组织学来评估组织结构和组织愈合。微计算机断层扫描通过定量测量提供骨组织的详细特征，如骨矿物质密度、骨小梁和皮质厚度、骨孔隙度和其他反映骨形成和吸收的参数，为现有的设备增加了一个重要的维度。<CT数据对于阐明健康和病变组织中骨结构和功能之间的关系至关重要。CT成像的无损特性允许对单个标本进行后续分析，包括组织学和力学测试。因此，使用<CT不需要增加标本或动物数量。我们之前对<CT的使用受到了这种仪器的限制，而不是这项技术在我们研究中的实用性。获得<CT的一个目标是促进转化研究，这是UMASS医学院基础研究和临床研究的主要方向，在骨骼生物学和癌症研究领域正在得到很好的整合。本应用程序所要求的高分辨率桌面CT系统将被一组研究人员充分利用，他们在骨骼愈合、骨质疏松症、骨关节炎和转移性骨疾病方面有很强的研究记录，并提供了重要的结果，以及新的研究方向。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary/Abstract: The goal of this proposal is to acquire funds to purchase a Scanco <CT40 instrument for 2- and 3-dimensional imaging and quantitative analyses of trabecular and cortical bone properties of small animal (mouse and rat) models. This instrument is to be shared among 15 users (10 are supported by 14 NIH grants, and 5 are recently recruited junior faculty). There is no similar instrument available on the UMASS Medical School, Worcester campus and at present sixteen research programs are in need of this for quantitative assessment of skeletal abnormalities in genetic mouse models, addressing novel therapeutic approaches for osteoarthritis and defects in fracture repair, characterization of new biomaterial substitutes for bone repair, and novel approaches for protecting the bone from irradiation damage and the osteolytic destruction caused by tumor growth in bone. Currently, these projects use multiple methods including standard radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histology to assess tissue structure and tissue healing. Micro-computed tomography adds an important dimension to this existing armamentarium by providing capabilities for detailed characterization of bone tissue by quantitative measurements such as bone mineral density, trabecular and cortical thickness, bone porosity and other parameters that reflect bone formation and resorption. The <CT data is critical in elucidating relationships between bone structure and function in both healthy and diseased tissues. The nondestructive nature of <CT imaging allows subsequent analysis of a single specimen by any number of complimentary techniques, including histology and mechanical testing. Thus, use of <CT does not require an increase in specimen or animal numbers. Our previous use of <CT has been limited by access to this instrumentation, rather than the utility of this technology for our research. A goal in obtaining the <CT is to facilitate translational research that is a major direction of the UMASS Medical campus in basic research and clinical investigations are becoming well integrated in the areas or skeletal biology and cancer research. The high-resolution desktop <CT system requested in this application will be fully utilized by a team of investigators who have a strong track record of providing important results, as well as new research directions in skeletal healing, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and metastatic bone disease.